Customer Reviews

Sister Act

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"Fabulous Baby" is just one of the sparkling new songs from "Sister Act" the new musical based on the Whoopi Goldberg movie of the same name. Patina Miller now plays her part and this girl CAN sing! Sorry, Whoopi. The music is by Alan Menken and the question is,is this his best score? Well no, but who cares? It's fun, it's catchy and when the "nuns" break loose---watch out---they are Fabulous, baby. The story is the same with Deloris Cartier, a third-rate saloon singer who witnesses a murder and for her own protection is placed by the police in a convent where she transforms the somewhat straight-laced, tone-deaf nuns choir into a kind of choir that would not be out of place in a smokey, dark nightclub. And now these newly sequined sisters raise the roof with such numbers as "Take Me To Heaven" "Raise Your Voice" "Bless Our Show" "Spread The Love Around" and a hilarious parody of "Saturday Night Fever" called "Sunday Morning Fever" There are also plenty of character songs to go around, the best of which is the beautiful title song sung by Deloris. Sheila Hancock as the prim and starchy Mother Superior has a song "Here Within These Walls" although nice, kind of drags the flow of the show and a plaintive ballad for a love-sick cop, "I Could Be That Guy" says it all in two minutes but unfortunately the song goes on for 5 minutes. but these are minor quibbles for a score that is rousingly joyful and all I can add is.....

AMEN and HALLELUJAH!!

Yes, I am a big Menken fan. Who isn't? Two days ago I saw the show in London, and even though I held my horses during almost the whole first act, I just had to face it didn't make any sense not to surrender to such an excellent and enjoyable product, the kind of blockbuster full of wit and talent and charm and intelligence, put together with such craft. And yes, the songs are pure Menken glory, and the lyrics are everything we can ask for, and the main lead was fantastic. Listening to the CD, which I haven't yet, will only make me fall in love even more with one of the most enjoyable shows I have seen in a few years.

I will admit I have had the soundtrack since the release of this cd, even before it was here in the states on broadway. I had loved the movies, loved whoopi and figured Petina Miller was going to be just great and I would also love the show and music. Here is the admit part..I played the soundtrack and was disapointed, so it was burned to the Ipod and didn't really ever go back to it. Fast foward to being in Ny and seeing the show on broadway. OMG, I know love the soundtrack and find the music to be great. If at all possible get to Ny and see the show (and then off course, go to amazon and buy the cd..)

I was elated when this cd became available at an affordable price! I felt that it was definitely worth the price. Since Whoopi Goldberg is one of the producers of the musical, I had seen clips from a rehearsal which were shown on "The View" after Whoopi's trip to London for the opening of the musical. Although the musical Sister Act does not use the songs from the movie featuring Whoopi Goldberg, I found most of the songs to have a very upbeat and uplifting rhythm with a blend of disco and hip hop. Since I am a lover of the disco sound of the 70's and 80's, I enjoyed most of the selections. I especially enjoyed the selections "Take Me To Heaven", "Fabulous, Baby", "Raise Your Voice", "Sister Act", and "Spread The Love Around" featuring Patina Miller. In the track "Do The Sacred Mass," some might feel that the lyrics are more secular than spiritual. However, you have to remember that this is a "musical comedy." I think this would be a hit on Broadway. Hopefully, an opening in the United States is in the foreseeable future.

I pulled out my Sister Act OCR after reading that the hugely talented Douglas Carter Beane is overhauling the book. The score is growing on me. Mr. Carter Beane's Xanandu, The Little Dog Laughed, and As Bees In Honey Drown are all wonderfully hysterical.

When I heard that Alan Menken wrote the music, I was elated. But then I discovered that the show is set in the 70's, and that most of the music is disco... NOT Menken's forte. The music is trite, predictable, and overall a big yawn. Where was the Menken that we knew from the Hercules soundtrack? Some more of that gospel would have been definitely welcomed here.
Some pleasant voices, and a catchy opening number - that's about it. Don't waste your $$$ - the original movie soundtrack was much more inventive and enjoyable.

Delightful music. One qualm I had is that some of the lyrics are (overly)irreverent to the Blessed Sacrament. However, the overall spirit of the show seems to be in tune with the Whoopie Goldberg movie by the same name. The lead singer's voice is a phenomenon!

Very disappointed with this recording.
The songs dont advance the film and the voices are pretty pedestrian.
Individually i am a fan of all the creatives who worked on this piece, but they have not given a score that brings to the stage what the music in the film provided.
Too many similar sounding songs and they dont reach the heights to match the moments of the film.
Disappointing but the title should at least sell tickets.

Alan Menken at his best! If you loved the music and passion of "Newsies", you'll love "Sister Act". And what a wonderful cast! Just hope the show arrives in New York more quickly than "Billy Elliot, the Musical" or "Jerry Springer, the Opera". (Still waiting!)